Going to Switzerland and Need Help

gmruss43,
I know your wife will love the surprise trip!
My only experiences in the beautiful country have been on the RS My Way Alpine tour. If you plan on driving, I would suggest getting Rick Steves' Switzerland guidebook as a starting point. Your library probably carries a copy (even if it's a few years old) so you may be able to see if you like it before purchase by checking it out. And, of course, the Rick Steves videos are wonderful and what initially made me want to visit.

Enjoy!

~Mitzi

What I’d tell a friend: peruse a book or website so you have a rough idea, then post a rough sketch here for feedback. I feel like the assistance will be richer that way!
Depending on what you choose, a car may be ill advised, the train system is really that good—even to small villages. If I was choosing one place, it would be Bernese Oberland, but there are beautiful places all over the country so I would not choose based on popularity but your own interests,
Early October or late October? Some lifts and such close in late October and the weather can change, but my trip was late October and it was absolutely perfect, perhaps I got lucky but I’d do it again.

https://www.myswitzerland.com/en-us/

sounds like a nice surprise!!

Have you read any guidebooks, especially the one written by our host here? Loads of answers there. Maybe take a copy to work and read on your breaks?

If you are talking about driving does that mean you want to visit lowland cities rather than the extraordinarily beautiful scenic mountains, often accessible by train but not car?

Are you aware of the fabulous and comprehensive train system? Mobility issues?

What do you see in your mind's eye that you want to give to your wife? What does it look like?

Yes, in October you will likely have snow in the mountains from time to time, and in the road passes.

The trains just go straight on in the snow - they have snow ploughs and cog wheels on the hills.

If you are on a train both of you can see the scenery, not just the passenger.

How are you in road tunnels and mountain driving?

It isn't actual snow that you need to be generally aware of, it's the fact that a lot of the high mountain passes close for the winter based on calendar dates even if there is no snow. And closed can mean padlocked barriers not just advisory signs. GoogleMaps is fairly reliable for this so use it for route planning and use the real date (or least the real week) of any journey you are thinking about - if it sends you on a long drawn out detour you'll know why! Last time I travelled in the Swiss Alps it was the week before the old San Bernardino pass road closed for winter and it was actually T-shirt weather!

Does it have to be October? What do you like to do? Cities aren't really the highlight of Switzerland....

I would not rent a car, as Switzerland's train system is wonderful. Towns I have enjoyed are Bern for its unique city layout and views; Lucerne for its covered bridge and boat tours; Geneva (for a UN tour); and Zurich's old town area. I'm a sucker for towns on a lake or river! For a first visit, each of these towns has side trips you could take.

Last October, I enjoyed a UN tour and took a side trip to Yvoire. Zurich and Lucerne are an hour apart; Bern and Interlaken are also an hour apart, and you could visit Lauterbrunnen to take a cable car to Schilthorn for views over the Bernese Alps. I took all of these trips by train.

If you decide on an area with a plan, use Rick's book or I'd be happy to recommend places to stay and further details in each area.

A word about budget. Take what you would usually spend and double it.

Two full days in Lucerne was enough for us. Our focus was on the BO with a stay in Wengen. All transportation was by the terrific Swiss rail system. If you have a rental car, you also need to consider the availability and cost of parking. Switzerland is a gorgeous country and we loved our time there, but don't underestimate the cost of that trip.